Life

New Zealand Preview: Nothing to Chance

This may be Cameron Brown’s 15th year competing in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand, but the veteran knows that experience is no remedy for perfect preparation. A key for the Ironman legend is ensuring that nothing is left to chance.

By Melissa Ingram

This year Brown will be chasing his 11th title after making the history books in 2011 when he became the first person to win the same Ironman event 10 times. At 40 he is nearing the end of his career, but his drive and passion for the sport continues to motivate him every day.

"I love Ironman. I’m still passionate about it and you have to be, otherwise it’s too hard to get out there and train 35 to 40 hours a week," says Brown. "My passion and desire to win still drives me daily and it’s my job at the moment, so it’s important to do well and put food on the table for the family."

It’s obvious that family is very important to Brown. He juggles a professional sporting career with being a dad to his two sons Josh and Braedon. His pride in his children is evident when he discusses the sporting commitments and goals of his young protégés.

"It’s hard to find a balance, but I try to finish work every day by 3pm and then it’s time for the kids’ sports. They are into soccer, rugby, swimming and BMX, so it’s quite demanding. Once my training is done for the day I get stuck in with them and doing all their stuff that they need to do. They love their BMX and the World Champs are in Auckland this year, so they’re training hard for that."

There is no doubt his supportive family will be cheering from the sidelines on race day as he takes on Olympic silver medallist and IRONMAN rookie Bevan Docherty, as well as former world 70.3 champion Terenzo Bozzone.

"It’s going to be a different race with Terenzo and Bevan. Bevan is an unknown at this stage, with it being his first IRONMAN. He always trains hard, so I know that he would have put in the training. These two will be up there that’s for sure," Brown said.

Brown’s wealth of experience in Taupo gives him confidence heading into the event, but he knows that he must stay focused on the job at hand if he wants to win another title.

"I know Taupo. This is my 15th year of racing there. I have experience on the course so I know what to eat and when to drink and that is an advantage over someone who’s coming into it for the first time. But things can still go wrong. Even after a long time in the sport you have to make sure that everything is perfectly prepared for race week and race day."

His training got off to a slower start than last year, but he is happy with his form at the moment and believes that everything is on track for him.

"I always go into it knowing that I need to be as fit as I can to win and this year’s no different. I know that if I’m in great form I’ll race well."

Like most professional athletes, Brown has mental strategies in place to help him get through the gruelling event. An event that he confesses still scares the hell out of him, even after completing over 40 IRONMAN races.

"I break down the distances. It’s pretty daunting when you go into an Ironman. I try to make the distances smaller, which makes it easier. It’s a scary concept, how far you have to swim, bike and run. But once the swim is done I focus on the bike course where two times90 km sounds better than 180 km and then, on the run, four times 10 km and a 2 km isn’t as daunting as 42km. It makes you feel a little better."

So IRONMAN participants can be rest assured that even professional, experienced, world-record breaking elite athletes find each IRONMAN a challenge. A challenge that Brown rates as something special.

"It’s an amazingly tough day and that’s why people come every year – to try and do something that not everyone can do in their lives."